Summary

Substantially revised, this book highlights 21st century teaching practices and issues to help readers discover what it takes to become professional teachers. Becoming a Teacher expands its emphasis on "mentoring" and contemporary trends and topics, giving greater coverage to technology and social issues. Case studies and discussions of teacher leadership encourage interactions with the concepts presented. The fifth edition of Becoming a Teacher provides the tools and information necessary to answer the questions "What does it take to become a professional teacher?" and "Do I want to teach?" For pre-service and in-service teachers.

Table of Contents

Preface

xiv

Part One The Teaching Profession

1

(77)

Dear Mentor

1

(1)

Teaching: Your Chosen Profession

2

(36)

Focus Questions

3

(2)

Why Do You Want to Teach?

5

(11)

Desire to Work with Children and Young People

5

(1)

Love of Teaching

6

(1)

Love of Subject

7

(1)

Love of the Teaching Life

7

(1)

Love of the Teaching-Learning Process

7

(1)

Influence of Teachers

7

(1)

Where Do You Stand? Should psychological assessments be used to identify students who should not become teachers?

8

(1)

Desire to Serve

9

(1)

Professional Reflection: Assessing your reasons for choosing to teach

10

(1)

Practical Benefits of Teaching

11

(1)

Salaries and Benefits

11

(2)

Job Security and Status

13

(1)

Job Opportunities for Teachers from Diverse Backgrounds

13

(3)

What Are the Challenges of Teaching?

16

(5)

Classroom Management and Increasing School Violence

16

(2)

Social Problems That Impact Students

18

(1)

Need for Family and Community Support

18

(1)

Long Working Hours and Job Stress

19

(1)

Gaining Professional Empowerment

19

(1)

Technology Highlights: Will I Be Prepared to Teach in a Digital Age?

20

(1)

What Is Teaching Really Like?

21

(7)

Reality 1: The Unpredictability of Outcomes

21

(1)

Students' Responses

21

(2)

Results in the Future

23

(1)

Reality 2: The Difficulty of Assessing Students' Learning

23

(1)

Reality 3: The Need for Teacher-Student Partnership

24

(1)

Reality 4: The Impact of Teachers' Attitudes

25

(1)

Reality 5: The Drama and Immediacy of Teaching

25

(1)

Reality 6: The Uniqueness of the Teaching Experience

26

(2)

What Does Society Expect of Teachers?

28

(2)

The Public Trust

28

(1)

Teacher Competency and Effectiveness

29

(1)

Teacher Accountability

29

(1)

How Do Good Teachers View Their Work?

30

(8)

A Way of Being

30

(1)

A Creative Endeavor

30

(1)

A Live Performance

31

(1)

A Form of Empowerment

31

(1)

Keepers of the Dream: Caroline Bitterwolf

32

(1)

An Opportunity to Serve

33

(1)

As Keepers of the Dream

33

(1)

Summary

33

(2)

Key Terms and Concepts

35

(1)

Applications and Activities

35

(1)

Teacher's Journal

35

(1)

Teacher's Database

36

(1)

Observations and Interviews

36

(1)

Professional Portfolio

37

(1)

Learning to Teach

38

(40)

Focus Questions

39

(2)

What Essential Knowledge Do You Need to Teach?

41

(5)

Self-Knowledge

41

(1)

Knowledge of Students

42

(1)

Professional Reflection: Inventorying your knowledge of children and youth

42

(1)

Knowledge of Subject

43

(1)

Knowledge of Methods for Applying Educational Theory and Research

43

(1)

Where Do You Stand? Which type of knowledge do teachers need more---subject-matter knowledge or professional knowledge?

44

(2)

What Are Five Ways of Viewing the Teacher Knowledge Base?

46

(5)

A Personal Development View

47

(1)

Research-Based Competencies

47

(1)

State Standards

48

(1)

A Job-Analysis Approach

48

(1)

Technology Highlights: What Technology-Related Knowledge and Skills Do Teachers Need?

49

(1)

Professional Views

50

(1)

How Do Reforms in Teacher Education Affect You?

51

(2)

Increased Academic Preparation

51

(1)

Expanded Role for Schools

52

(1)

National Certification

52

(1)

State Standards Boards

53

(1)

What Can You Learn from Observing in Classrooms?

53

(4)

Technology and Classroom Observations

53

(1)

Case to Consider: Ruth's Dilemma

54

(1)

Focused Observations

55

(1)

Observation Instruments

56

(1)

How Can You Gain Practical Experience for Becoming a Teacher?

57

(5)

Classroom Experiences

57

(1)

Microteaching

57

(1)

Simulations

57

(1)

Video Cases

58

(1)

Practica

58

(1)

Classroom Aides

58

(1)

Student Teaching

58

(1)

Student Teacher Journal Writing

58

(1)

Reflective Teaching Logs

59

(1)

Gaining Experiences in Multicultural Settings

60

(1)

Induction and Internship Programs

60

(1)

School-Based Teacher Education

61

(1)

Substitute Teaching

61

(1)

How Can You Develop Your Teaching Portfolio?

62

(2)

Portfolio Contents

63

(1)

Using a Portfolio

64

(1)

How Can You Benefit from Mentoring Relationships?

64

(1)

What Opportunities for Continuing Professional Development Will You Have?

65

(13)

Self-Assessment for Professional Growth

66

(1)

Teacher Workshops

67

(1)

Teacher Centers

67

(1)

Professional Development Schools

67

(1)

Supervision and Mentoring of Students Teachers

68

(1)

Graduate Study

68

(1)

Study on the Internet

68

(1)

Summary

68

(3)

Key Terms and Concepts

71

(1)

Applications and Activities

71

(1)

Teacher's Journal

71

(1)

Teacher's Database

72

(1)

Observations and Interviews

72

(1)

Professional Portfolio

73

(1)

Appendix 2.1: Florida Performance Measurement System

74

(1)

Appendix 2.2: Models of Professional Standards: Kentucky's New Teacher Standards

75

(1)

Appendix 2.3: Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium Standards

76

(1)

Appendix 2.4: Sample NBPTS Portfolio Exercise

77

(1)

Part Two Influences on the Professional Lives of Teachers

78

(168)

Dear Mentor

78

(2)

Ideas and Events That Have Shaped Education in the United States

80

(42)

Focus Questions

81

(2)

What Determines Your Educational Philosophy?

83

(3)

Beliefs about Teaching and Learning

83

(1)

Technology Highlights: How can the World Wide Web enhance your study of and interest in the philosophy and history of education?